Rainier City Council Meeting October 22, 2013

George & I attended tonight's City Council Meeting at the Rainier City Hall. 

There will be a Christmas Tree Lighting at the Olympia State Capital at 6:00 PM on Dec. 6.

The Rainier Christmas Tree Lighting will be held on December 7th at 6 PM.

• The Soccer Field has been moved to the end of the year & they will be addressing the concerns to the top at Thurston County.
• The office staff went to training on their software in Wenachee, WA.  They benefited greatly from the training.  The staff was glad that training and health benefits will be kept in next years budget.  
• There will be a survey for parks that will be taken around to the area businesses and citizens.  
• There is an opening for a City Council Member.  You can find out more about this position on the City of Rainier website:  http://cityofrainierwa.org/
• There will be a public hearing at 6:30 PM prior to the December 10th City Council meeting.
• Senior civil engineering students from St. Martin's College will be helping the City of Rainier with a street & park project.  They will be doing feasibility studies, design and all the things that are required to bring the projects into fruition.  This will help the City of Rainier as well as help the students meet their graduation requirements - of working on a civil engineering project.  The council members and mayor - as well as the Ron, from Public Works and Fred, the City Planner - are very excited about working with these students.
• Council Member Winslow went on a police ride-along.  The first three hours were boring.  Nothing happened.  Just as she was getting ready to leave, the Sheriff received a call.  He asked her if she wanted to stay and go with him.  She said, "Yes."  They went to that call with sirens blaring.  That's when things got exciting.  She said the ride-along was a good experience.  It was boring & exciting,  fascinating & scary.  She'd like to do it again.

Zoning revisions that will be altered:

1. There are three areas where the housing developments were built less that 40 years ago.  These existing areas do not need any zoning changes, so they will remain the same.  (These are the newer developments.)
2. Tipsoo Loop area - will be rezoned for 6 - 8 units per acre - providing there is a common ground area and the housing is centralized.  (Making it easier for sewers.)
3. The downtown area will go from 6 - 8 units to 8 - 28 units per acre.

These zoning changes will only take effect AFTER sewers are put in.  There will be conditional use in agreement for things like fire stations on major roads into town like Hubbard.

The planning commission website has had 90 hits.  Check it out through the City of Rainier website at:  http://cityofrainierwa.org/.  The zoning changes are for information only & will be voted on by the city council at the next regular meeting.  (Second Tuesday of November.)

Questions?  Contact City Planner - Fred Evander

There was a brief discussion on marijuana.  Apparently the State Liquor Board will be in charge of both medical and recreational marijuana.  No one has applied to sell it in Rainier.  One person came in, but did not have a UBI  (Unified Business Identification #).  They did not return with a UBI.  

Other items were discussed & voted on & the meeting was adjourned.  All in all - I'm glad we attended the meeting at the City Hall.  The meetings are productive and handled in a professional and respectful manner.  I was amazed at how much was done in just over an hour. I recommend attending.